Leadership in higher education is more complex than ever. Academic institutions are being asked to do more with less—drive innovation, strengthen collaboration, and foster inclusion—while navigating constant change. Yet the most pressing challenge remains human: developing leaders who can think strategically, communicate effectively, and build cohesive teams across departments and disciplines.
h3 Strategies brings deep expertise in leadership and team development to colleges and universities across the nation. Our work blends the rigor of research with the practicality of real-world results. With real-world experience with and in higher education, our approach is grounded in evidence-based frameworks that empower leaders, elevate teams, and prepare the next generation to lead with clarity and confidence.
Expert Coaching for Higher-Ed Leaders
Leadership in higher education is distinct from leadership in other settings. Universities and colleges operate within systems of shared governance, layered accountability, and mission-driven priorities that extend beyond profit. Leading in this environment requires navigating complexity—balancing academic freedom with administrative oversight, fostering collaboration across disciplines, and aligning diverse voices toward a shared vision.
At h3 Strategies, our leadership coaching for higher education is designed with this complexity in mind. We understand that progress in academia isn’t achieved solely through authority—it’s achieved through influence, trust, and emotional intelligence.
- Clarify purpose and strengthen decision-making amid competing demands.
- Build resilience and lead effectively through ambiguity and change.
- Communicate with authenticity and influence across departmental and institutional boundaries.
Our coaching engagements provide space for reflection, growth, and practical application. Leaders emerge more self-aware, more strategic, and better equipped to unite people and ideas across the unique ecosystem of higher education.
EQ-i 2.0® (Emotional Intelligence) Workshops
In higher education, leadership effectiveness depends heavily on interpersonal relationships and influence. Emotional intelligence—the ability to recognize, understand, and manage emotions in oneself and others—is what allows academic leaders to thrive in an environment defined by collaboration, autonomy, and competing priorities.
Our Emotional Intelligence workshops are designed specifically for higher-education leaders and teams who want to enhance their self-awareness, communication, and adaptability. Using validated, research-based assessments, we help participants understand how emotional intelligence influences their leadership, teaching, and collaboration.
Participants gain insight into core EQ competencies such as self-perception, interpersonal relationships, decision-making, and stress management. Just as importantly, they learn how to apply those insights to the real challenges of academic life—navigating faculty dynamics, managing cross-department initiatives, and sustaining trust through change.
Each workshop provides both individual data and collective learning, enabling teams to establish a shared understanding of leadership and collaboration. The result is a more cohesive culture—one where understanding replaces tension and communication fuels performance.
Team Development with Everything DiSC® on Catalyst
Universities are built on collaboration—across departments, disciplines, and divisions—yet the very diversity of academic perspectives can create barriers to effective teamwork. Miscommunication, competing priorities, and siloed structures often limit an institution’s ability to move forward cohesively.
Our Everything DiSC® on Catalyst workshops are designed to help higher-education teams bridge those divides. Using an evidence-based behavioral framework, we help faculty, staff, and administrators better understand their individual work styles—and how those styles shape communication, trust, and performance across the institution.
- Recognize and adapt to diverse communication and work preferences.
- Build psychological safety and reduce friction within and between departments.
- Strengthen collaboration and shared accountability for institutional outcomes.
Rather than relying on surface-level team building, these workshops establish a lasting foundation for collaboration. Teams walk away with a shared language for understanding behavior and a renewed capacity to work together toward common goals—whether advancing strategic initiatives, supporting student success, or fostering a more inclusive academic culture.
Coaching the Next Generation of Student Leaders
Today’s students are tomorrow’s innovators, educators, and leaders in organizations. Colleges and universities recognize that developing leadership capacity early not only benefits students but also strengthens the institution’s broader mission of preparing graduates who can navigate complexity with confidence and purpose.
Our Student Leadership Coaching aligns with and supports institutional program needs and criteria, while delivering the same evidence-based coaching excellence we provide to other leaders and executives. Each engagement is tailored to fit seamlessly within the university’s existing student development initiatives or leadership programs.
Through structured conversations and validated tools, students gain greater clarity about their strengths and areas for development. Each experience develops leadership capacity that extends far beyond campus life—creating graduates who contribute meaningfully to their organizations, communities, the world around them, and their alma mater.
Why h3 Strategies
For over two decades, h3 Strategies has partnered with colleges and universities to enhance leadership capacity, team cohesion, and institutional effectiveness. Our background in higher education, as faculty, senior administrators, and consultants, gives us a unique perspective on what it truly takes to lead within complex academic environments.
We understand the pressures that shape higher education today: shared governance, competing priorities, resource constraints, and the evolving expectations of students and stakeholders. These realities require leaders who can navigate ambiguity, inspire collaboration, and communicate with both empathy and clarity.
Our work is grounded in evidence-based frameworks, including the EQ-i 2.0®, and Everything DiSC® on Catalyst. We pair these tools with customized coaching and team development approaches that reflect each institution’s mission, culture, and challenges. Whether we’re working with senior leadership teams, department chairs, or emerging student leaders, our goal remains consistent—to help people lead more effectively and work together more cohesively.
What sets h3 Strategies apart is our ability to connect research and practice. We translate proven leadership models into practical strategies that result in measurable, sustained change. Our programs don’t just develop skills—they strengthen relationships, clarify purpose, and cultivate emotionally intelligent leaders equipped to meet the demands of modern higher education.
At h3 Strategies, we help institutions thrive by empowering their leaders and teams to do the same.
“When leadership grows in higher education, culture transforms. Collaboration deepens, communication improves, and innovation follows.” — h3 Strategies